Lorna Cartwright is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Janet Dibley intermittently between 31 July 1997 and 23 April 1998.

[1] Lorna was introduced primarily as a catalyst to break up Phil Mitchell's (Steve McFadden) marriage to Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth).

Although producers reportedly wanted to develop the character further, actress Janet Dibley declined their offer of an extended contract, as she disagreed with a proposed storyline that would see Lorna gang raped.

Kathy's response is to throw her wedding ring in the River Seine, telling Phil that marrying him is the worst mistake of her life.

Lorna arrives drunk and homeless at The Reverend Alex Healy's (Richard Driscoll) refuge centre, Bridge House.

Lorna, described as "a drunken loner", was part of a storyline that centred on the character Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) and his ongoing struggles with alcoholism.

[3] A fellow alcoholic, Lorna met Phil at an AA meeting and "became attached to him"; they began a torrid affair, which ended badly.

[3] Lorna's principal purpose was to break up the marriage of Phil and his wife Kathy (Gillian Taylforth), which eventually happened in a special set of episodes, that was broadcast in August 1997 and was filmed in Paris, France.

A critic for The Independent commented on the Paris episodes: "Phil is jumpy because he expects Lorna to emerge shrieking from the bushes at any moment; stabbing wildly about her with a carving knife (she gave a tiny clue to her highly strung nature the other night, by stubbing a cigarette out on his chest).

[5] It would have been the first time the soap had shown such an attack, but Dibley feared the "harrowing scenes" would lead to her six-year-old son being taunted.

"[6] Dibley allegedly heard about Lorna's intended storyline from rumours on set, and approached series producer Mike Hudson to talk it through.

[6] Dibley's decision was supported by MPs and women's groups, who condemned the BBC for planning to screen gang rape scenes, which would have been shown 90 minutes before the 9 pm watershed.

Philippa Chipping, of the Domestic Violence Intervention Project, said the storyline was irresponsible: "I completely understand Janet's fear of playing what would be a very traumatic scene.

Pam Francis of the Sunday Mirror commented, "If it were not for the fact that Janet Dibley plays such a tragic alcoholic in EastEnders, I'd send her a bottle of bubbly to toast her protest.

One reporter questioned the competency of the programme makers, saying, "Are producers of EastEnders so unimaginative that they couldn't think of a future for Janet's character Lorna other than turn her into the tart…" Another accused the show's producers of being prepared to expose "children to scenes of violence and sex, which are both gratuitous and offensive", merely to bring in higher ratings, and beat their biggest soap rival, Coronation Street.

[9] John Blunt, from the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, accused the gang rape storyline of being the latest novelty wretchedness to be gratuitously used by soap scriptwriters "in the name of family entertainment".

He criticised the UK broadcasting watchdog's efficiency at protecting young children who routinely watch soap operas, commenting: "Short of parents having the good sense to turn the TV off and spare their children from exposure to such coarse assaults on their innocence, a much firmer line needs to be taken by our broadcasting standards watchdogs - whose evident ineffectiveness is brought home by Janet Dibley showing what ought to be done in the name of common decency and family values.